Powered Inertia Reel Retraction during Ejection.

摘要

The purpose of this program was to determine the potential effectiveness of upper torso restraint afforded by PIR (Powered Inertia Reel) actuation at inception of the ejection stroke. This program was jointly funded by the Navy and Air Force, and the results are applicable to the Navy A-7 and the Air Force A-10 aircraft escape systems. Twelve tests were conducted on the NADC Ejection Tower to compare dummy responses for six sets of tests with initial conditions of PIR retraction being varied in each set (one test with retraction, one without). A number of the tests were duplicated in order to demonstrate repeatibility of results. It was demonstrated that the tested PIR is not effective in overcoming ejection loads imposed on the dummy during the onset phase of the catapult stroke. (Author)